RADIOLOGY services at Noble's Hospital have been improved following a donation from the Manx Osteoporosis Society.
The society donated £1,500 to the Radiology Department which the Department of Health has used to upgrade its Dexa scanner to the latest technical specifications.
The scanner is used to generate Frax scores – an individual assessment measuring a patient's risk of having a fracture – something invaluable to patients at risk of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis means 'porous bones' and is often referred to as the fragile/brittle bone disease. Over 1,000 patients are scanned each year on the Island for the disease which often has no symptoms.
Routine x-rays are not reliable for diagnosing the disease. The Dexa scanner works by shining x-rays through a patient's bones. Thin bones let more of the x-rays through on the detector while stronger bones do not let as many pass through.
Children will benefit from the updated technology as the department will now be able to scan them for clinical information relating to their growth and development. Prior to the upgrade children were sent off-Island for this particular scan.
Radiology manager Diane Rainford said: "This donation couldn't have come at a better time. This has finally allowed us to update the software which is used by the Dexa scanner to improve the detail in the images.
"I would personally like to thank the Manx Osteoporosis Society for this donation as it enables us to improve the services we provide to the public here at Noble's Hospital.
"We strive to provide high quality care for patients and this donation has ensured that the hospital has the most up to date technology benefiting of all those patients who require their bone density to be measured."
The Manx Osteoporosis Society was formed eight years ago. Chairperson Thelma Lomax said: "It is a pleasure to be able to make this sizable donation to Noble's Hospital's Radiology Department. This is our first donation and we are delighted to be able to enhance the services which are provided by the department."
Picture caption: L to R - Dr Rohit Peshin, consultant rheumatologist, Thelma Lomax, chair of the Manx Osteoporosis Society, Jill Creed, deputy radiology manager, Caroline Rawson, secretary of the Manx Osteoporosis Society and Val Cowgill, lead Dexa radiographer.
